Doctor shares biggest takeaway from Kate’s cancer diagnosis

CNN
22 Mar 202409:21

Summary

TLDRPrincess Catherine has been diagnosed with cancer following major abdominal surgery, sparking concerns for the monarchy's future. The specific type and stage of cancer remain undisclosed, but she has begun chemotherapy. The royal family aims to maintain normality for her children, requesting privacy as they navigate this challenging time.

Takeaways

  • 🏥 Princess Catherine underwent major abdominal surgery, which led to the discovery of cancer.
  • 📅 The announcement about her condition was timed to coincide with her children being out of school to shield them from media attention.
  • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The royal family aimed to protect the children from media speculation and wanted them to be informed in a private setting before the public announcement.
  • 💊 Princess Catherine began chemotherapy at the end of February, balancing her treatment with her role as a mother.
  • 👑 The simultaneous health issues of Princess Catherine and King Charles could have a significant impact on the monarchy and its operations.
  • 🕒 Princess Catherine's public appearances had been limited since her surgery, leading to widespread speculation about her health.
  • 📸 The royal family requested privacy and asked the public not to share images of them during this challenging time.
  • 🎥 Princess Catherine made a personal and emotional video announcement about her diagnosis, demonstrating strength and vulnerability.
  • 🤝 Prince William is supporting his wife through her diagnosis and treatment, while also prioritizing his family.
  • 🔍 Despite the public's concerns and conspiracy theories, the specific type and stage of Princess Catherine's cancer remain undisclosed.
  • 📈 Colorectal cancer, in particular, has become more prevalent in younger individuals, including women of Princess Catherine's age.

Q & A

  • What is the current condition of Princess Catherine?

    -Princess Catherine has been diagnosed with cancer and has undergone major abdominal surgery. She is now undergoing chemotherapy.

  • When did Princess Catherine reveal her cancer diagnosis?

    -The announcement of Princess Catherine's cancer diagnosis was made after her children left school, on a day that is not specified in the transcript.

  • What was the purpose of Princess Catherine's major abdominal surgery?

    -The major abdominal surgery was initially described as planned, but it later revealed that it was necessary because tests following the surgery showed she had cancer.

  • How is the royal family managing the situation with Princess Catherine's health?

    -The royal family is trying to maintain normality for the children and protect them from media speculation. They are also managing the public's understanding of the situation by being transparent about her treatment and condition.

  • What is the impact of Princess Catherine's and King Charles' health on the monarchy?

    -The health issues of Princess Catherine and King Charles have a significant impact on the monarchy, as both are key senior royals. Their absence from public duties puts additional pressure on the remaining senior royals, particularly the queen, to lead.

  • How did the public and media react to Princess Catherine's health situation?

    -There was a lot of speculation and concern from the public and media, especially after the announcement of her hospitalization and the extended recovery period. This led to increased media attention and conspiracy theories.

  • What was Princess Catherine's last public appearance before her diagnosis became public?

    -Princess Catherine's last public appearance was during a Christmas Day church service, where she appeared healthy and vibrant.

  • When did Princess Catherine start her chemotherapy?

    -Princess Catherine started her chemotherapy at the end of February.

  • What was the public's reaction to the Mother's Day photograph released by Kensington Palace?

    -There was a kill notice issued due to concerns that the photograph had been heavily doctored. Princess Catherine later confirmed that she had tinkered with the photograph and apologized for any confusion.

  • How prevalent are cancer diagnoses in women of Princess Catherine's age?

    -Cancer diagnoses are more prevalent in women of Princess Catherine's age compared to men, but less prevalent than in older women. There has been a trend of certain cancers, such as colorectal cancer, occurring in younger individuals.

  • What type of chemotherapy is Princess Catherine undergoing?

    -Princess Catherine is undergoing preventative or adjuvant chemotherapy, which is administered after surgery to reduce the chance of cancer recurrence.

Outlines

00:00

🏥 Princess Catherine's Health Update and Family Considerations

The paragraph discusses the recent health announcement regarding Princess Catherine, who has been diagnosed with cancer after undergoing major abdominal surgery. The specifics of the cancer type remain undisclosed, and the timing of the announcement was carefully chosen to protect the royal children from media speculation. The family's priority is to maintain a sense of normality for the children, and they have requested privacy regarding their public appearances and medical treatment. The impact on the monarchy is significant, with both Princess Catherine and King Charles undergoing chemotherapy, leaving the queen as the primary senior royal in public action. The narrative also touches on the public's reaction and speculation following the initial hospitalization and the family's efforts to shield their children from potential distress.

05:00

🎥 Princess Catherine's Personal Announcement and Public Reaction

This paragraph focuses on the manner in which Princess Catherine chose to announce her cancer diagnosis, opting for a personal and emotional video message. Her decision to address the public alone, despite having the support of Prince William, is highlighted as a display of strength. The announcement resonates with those affected by cancer, and the princess's message is noted for its regal yet vulnerable tone. The summary also emphasizes her concern for others suffering from the disease, demonstrating her commitment to her role as a princess. The discussion then shifts to the medical aspects of her situation, with CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta providing insights into the potential timeline and treatment approach, including the significance of the adjuvant chemotherapy she began after her surgery. The prevalence of cancer in women of her age is also addressed, with a particular mention of the increasing incidence of colorectal cancer in younger individuals.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Princess Catherine

Princess Catherine, also known as Kate Middleton, is a central figure in this transcript. She is a member of the British royal family and the wife of Prince William. The video discusses her recent diagnosis of cancer and the impact on her family and public life.

💡Cancer

Cancer is a disease characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. In the context of the video, it is the medical condition that Princess Catherine has been diagnosed with, which is a significant and serious health issue affecting her and her family.

💡Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses one or more drugs to kill cancer cells. It is a significant part of the video as it is mentioned that Princess Catherine has started this treatment at the end of February, indicating the aggressive approach to her cancer care.

💡Major Abdominal Surgery

Major abdominal surgery refers to a significant invasive medical procedure that takes place within the abdominal cavity. In the context of the video, this surgery was initially planned but led to the discovery of Princess Catherine's cancer.

💡Royal Family

The royal family refers to the immediate family of a reigning monarch, their children, and other close relatives. In this video, the royal family is impacted by the health issues of Princess Catherine and King Charles, both undergoing treatment for cancer.

💡Public Appearance

A public appearance refers to when a public figure or celebrity is seen or参加活动 in a public setting. In the context of the video, it discusses Princess Catherine's last public appearance before her surgery and the speculation that arose from her absence.

💡Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace is the official residence of Prince William and Princess Catherine. In the video, it is mentioned as the source of statements and announcements regarding the Princess's health and treatment.

💡Treatment Timeline

The treatment timeline refers to the sequence of medical interventions and procedures that a patient undergoes during their treatment for a medical condition. In the video, it outlines the sequence of events from Princess Catherine's surgery to the start of her chemotherapy.

💡Media Speculation

Media speculation refers to the conjecture or假设 made by the media based on incomplete or limited information. In the video, it highlights the various theories and rumors that emerged following Princess Catherine's health issues and her family's efforts to manage the situation.

💡Family Privacy

Family privacy refers to the protection of personal and family life from public intrusion. In the context of the video, it emphasizes the royal family's desire to maintain a sense of normalcy and privacy for their children amidst the health crisis.

💡Impact on Monarchy

The impact on monarchy refers to the effects that events or situations, such as health issues of senior royals, have on the functioning and perception of a monarchy. In the video, it discusses the potential consequences of the health challenges faced by Princess Catherine and King Charles on the British monarchy.

Highlights

Princess Catherine's condition is cancer, but the specific form is not disclosed.

The announcement about her condition was timed to protect her children from media speculation.

Princess Catherine underwent major abdominal surgery and tests revealed cancer.

The royal family wanted to break the news after her children finished school to shield them from immediate media exposure.

Princess Catherine began chemotherapy at the end of February.

The family is focusing on managing the situation for the children and protecting them from online speculation.

Princess Catherine's chemotherapy coincides with King Charles' own treatment.

The monarchy faces a significant impact with four senior royals, including the king and queen, and the prince and princess, affected.

Princess Catherine's priority is to ensure her children maintain a sense of normality.

The royal family has requested privacy regarding images of them during this time.

Princess Catherine's last public appearance was over Christmas before her surgery.

After the surgery, there was a two-week hospital stay that raised concerns and speculation about her health.

A statement from Kensington Palace on January 17th confirmed her return to the hospital for surgery.

Princess Catherine was discharged on January 29th but remained out of the public eye.

On March 10th, a Mother's Day photograph was released, sparking further speculation due to editing.

Princess Catherine personally addressed concerns about the edited photograph, showing vulnerability.

A video surfaced showing a seemingly healthy Princess Catherine, which did not alleviate health concerns.

The announcement of her cancer diagnosis put an end to the rampant speculation about her health.

Princess Catherine chose to make the announcement alone, showing strength and emotion.

The timeline of events suggests a significant concern from the start, leading to preventative chemotherapy.

Despite the diagnosis, the type and stage of Princess Catherine's cancer remain unknown.

Colorectal cancer is becoming more prevalent in younger individuals, including women of Princess Catherine's age.

Transcripts

00:00

CNN's Max Foster is live outside

00:01

Buckingham Palace for us right now.

00:02

Max, what else

00:03

are you hearing from the palace tonight

00:05

about Princess Catherine's condition?

00:07

Not to mention

00:07

the timing of this announcement.

00:12

So we're not going

00:12

be told exactly what form of cancer

00:14

it is, the timing.

00:16

She referred to it

00:17

that this is about the kids.

00:19

They she revealed today that she had

00:21

major abdominal surgery,

00:23

not just abdominal surgery.

00:25

So she had to recover from that.

00:26

Then the news that tests

00:28

out of that surgery

00:29

showed that she had cancer.

00:31

They needed to decompress

00:33

that as a family.

00:33

The kids have been at school until today.

00:36

They've been trying.

00:37

They didn't want the kids to

00:40

have lots of news coverage whilst

00:42

they were at school

00:43

with all the other kids

00:44

speaking to their kids.

00:46

So they wanted to wait

00:47

until they left school,

00:49

which happened today.

00:49

So they were picked up today

00:51

and they won't be having

00:54

the TV's on tonight.

00:55

This is all a bit about

00:56

trying to make sense of what happened.

00:58

Start the treatment.

00:59

She started chemo at the end of February,

01:01

I'm told.

01:03

And then trying to,

01:04

you know, manage this for the kids

01:06

as much as anything else.

01:07

Once William

01:08

and Kate can make sense of it

01:10

and then present it to the kids

01:12

and then try to protect them

01:13

as much as possible from

01:16

all this speculation online,

01:17

which has been

01:19

really hurtful for the family,

01:20

as I understand it.

01:21

But they were particularly worried

01:23

about the kids finding out that way.

01:26

And we now know why we weren't being told

01:29

what the issue was

01:30

and what she was suffering from

01:31

in hospital.

01:32

Max.

01:33

Princess Catherine

01:34

will now be undergoing chemotherapy

01:37

at the same time as her

01:38

father in law, King Charles.

01:40

We don't know what kind of cancer

01:42

either one of them has.

01:43

What kind of impact

01:44

will this have on the monarchy?

01:50

A huge impact.

01:52

There are four senior

01:53

royals,

01:54

the king and queen

01:55

and the prince and princess.

01:57

The king is out of public action.

01:59

He's carrying out duties

02:00

behind the scenes.

02:01

Of course,

02:01

we're seeing some images of him now.

02:04

The princess is out of action

02:05

indefinitely until the doctors

02:07

clear her to go back to her

02:09

diary of engagements.

02:10

We don't know when that's going to be.

02:11

We only know that she's

02:12

in the early stages of treatment

02:14

and she's not going to be comfortable

02:15

for some time going out.

02:16

The priority for her

02:18

is making sure her kids have normality

02:21

as much as possible.

02:22

So we've all been asked

02:23

not to share

02:24

any images of them out and about.

02:26

They're being very clear.

02:27

She is going to be going to hospital.

02:28

They are going to be out and about.

02:30

They don't want people

02:30

sharing those images,

02:31

which is why they've been transparent,

02:34

as transparent

02:35

as they have with us today.

02:37

But you've basically

02:38

just got the queen at the top fall out.

02:40

Leading the charge,

02:41

William is going to do what he can,

02:43

but it's pretty clear

02:44

that he's

02:44

making his far family priority as well.

02:47

Max Foster outside Buckingham Palace,

02:49

thank you so much.

02:50

Let's bring in CNN's

02:51

Julia Chatterley and Julia.

02:53

Princess Catherine's last

02:54

public appearance came over Christmas.

02:56

That was before

02:57

she had this major abdominal surgery

02:59

in January.

03:00

Can you walk us through

03:01

how all of this has unfolded

03:02

in recent weeks?

03:04

Hey, Josh, I can.

03:05

Jake. Sorry, I can.

03:06

Christmas, Christmas Day.

03:08

Brits always watch them at

03:11

their church service.

03:12

We saw her looking healthy, vibrant,

03:14

nothing wrong.

03:15

Then we didn't see her for three weeks.

03:17

Unusual.

03:18

But nothing to cause alarm.

03:21

Then comes January

03:22

the 17th, in fact,

03:23

and we got a release

03:24

from Kensington Palace.

03:26

A statement on social media

03:27

saying she'd returned to hospital

03:30

for planned abdominal surgery.

03:32

That the procedure was successful.

03:34

But Kate would be in hospital

03:35

for two weeks,

03:36

and it was that two weeks that set off,

03:38

I think, alarm bells

03:39

and began

03:40

the wild speculation

03:41

that we've now been talking

03:42

about for weeks

03:43

about what was wrong with Kate

03:44

and what might be happening January 29,

03:47

the next important date.

03:48

She was been discharged from hospital,

03:50

but we didn't see her.

03:51

She managed to avoid any press

03:53

and any cameras at that stage.

03:55

Then March the fourth,

03:57

we saw her in a car with her mother.

03:59

But again, there was concerns

04:01

that perhaps this wasn't

04:02

her more speculation

04:03

about what was going on.

04:05

Then a brief period till March 10th

04:08

where Kensington Palace released

04:10

that Mother's Day photograph.

04:11

Mother's Day in the U.K., March

04:13

the 10th of her and her three children.

04:15

But within hours,

04:16

there was a kill notice issue

04:18

due to concerns

04:19

that it had been heavily doctored.

04:21

The next day, a personal message

04:24

from Princess

04:24

Kate herself saying, look,

04:25

she's an amateur photographer,

04:27

that she tinkered with that photograph

04:30

and she apologized.

04:31

Strange, again,

04:33

raising more concerns

04:34

and conspiracy theories.

04:36

Then last weekend, the media shared

04:39

a video

04:40

of what was and appeared

04:41

to be Kate and William.

04:42

Kate looking very healthy,

04:44

vibrant, vivacious,

04:45

walking at a local farm

04:46

near where they're living.

04:48

So, again,

04:49

that perhaps should have addressed

04:50

some of the concerns about her health

04:52

and the situation.

04:53

It didn't.

04:54

Fast forward to today

04:55

and now all that wild

04:57

speculation has resulted

04:58

in what we heard today, of course,

05:00

and that's a sad cancer diagnosis.

05:02

Julia,

05:03

what did you make of how Princess

05:05

Catherine decided

05:05

to make this announcement

05:06

on video by herself with this message

05:10

that was personal

05:11

and emotional understanding?

05:13

I think she showed great strength.

05:16

I think she could have sat there,

05:18

quite rightly, with her husband,

05:19

with Prince William, providing support.

05:21

She chose not to do that.

05:22

I think you could hear the emotion

05:24

in her voice.

05:25

She managed to be

05:26

and I said it already, both regal

05:28

but also vulnerable in the message

05:30

that she shared.

05:30

And I think for anybody

05:31

whose lives been touched by cancer,

05:34

they understand the challenge

05:35

that she's facing, the challenge

05:37

of telling the children,

05:38

of trying to protect the children.

05:40

And I think even in this statement,

05:41

she showed that she's a princess

05:43

through and through

05:44

by caring in the end

05:45

more about other people

05:46

that are also suffering this,

05:48

rather than just focusing

05:49

perhaps on herself,

05:51

on her own family's situation.

05:53

So very moving, Jake, I'd say.

05:56

All right, Julian, generally,

05:57

thank you so much.

05:58

Joining us now

05:58

to discuss the medical aspect of this.

06:00

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

06:01

Sanjay, what's your biggest takeaway

06:04

from what we heard from

06:04

Princess Catherine today?

06:07

I think the biggest takeaway,

06:09

obviously, is

06:10

the headline that she has cancer.

06:13

But that, you know,

06:14

that we don't know

06:14

what kind of cancer, as you've heard,

06:16

we don't know the stage of cancer.

06:18

So there is a significant

06:21

piece of information.

06:23

But there's also a lot we don't know.

06:26

We did get a better sense

06:27

of the timeline.

06:28

And you were talking about this

06:30

with Julia

06:30

a little bit,

06:31

but let me just put this up again, Jake.

06:32

Just so you know, a medical standpoint,

06:35

it sounds like there was concern

06:37

from the start.

06:38

We're hearing what we're hearing today.

06:40

But even from the start,

06:41

they said, look, she's going to be

06:43

it's going be a long recovery.

06:45

Even when they admitted to the hospital,

06:46

they said it's going

06:47

be at least two weeks in the hospital,

06:49

which is a long time.

06:50

And then we know that about a month

06:53

after she was discharged

06:54

from the hospitals, when she started

06:56

what they call

06:56

preventative chemotherapy,

06:58

that's what we said in the statement.

07:00

It's more of an adjuvant chemotherapy.

07:03

This idea

07:03

that the operation was performed.

07:06

We now know that it's cancer.

07:07

We have to assume that

07:08

there are some cancer cells

07:10

that are still remaining.

07:12

So we're giving chemotherapy.

07:14

So we

07:15

we still don't know, Jake, what it is.

07:16

We don't know the stage that it is,

07:19

but it sounds like it's obviously

07:20

something that they're

07:21

being aggressive about

07:22

and that they have had concern

07:24

about for for some time. Jake.

07:26

How does a cancer diagnosis work

07:28

in this situation?

07:29

I mean, we know

07:29

she had abdominal surgery, major

07:32

abdominal surgery, two surgeons

07:34

taking samples for further testing.

07:38

Yeah, I think

07:38

I think that's that's exactly right.

07:40

And again,

07:41

that's the part of it when you ask me

07:43

what stands out the most.

07:44

This is the part that doesn't

07:45

quite fit because

07:47

going back to the middle of January,

07:49

there was obviously significant concern.

07:51

You wouldn't just do

07:52

sort of exploratory surgery,

07:55

looking for cancer.

07:56

I think there was

07:57

there was a significant concern.

07:58

So it sounds like it

07:59

then got confirmed that this was cancer.

08:02

They weren't sure,

08:02

maybe initially,

08:03

but it got confirmed

08:05

by by looking at those samples.

08:06

This is, say,

08:07

Jake, under the microscope

08:09

after the operation and performed.

08:11

And then it might be some time

08:12

before you'd actually start chemotherapy,

08:15

not allowing someone to heal,

08:17

for example, from the operation.

08:19

That was about a month

08:20

in between the time she was discharged

08:22

and she started that therapy.

08:24

And she's a Princess Catherine.

08:26

She's 42 years old.

08:27

She's had three children.

08:29

How prevalent are cancer diagnoses

08:32

in women her age?

08:37

They're

08:37

more prevalent in women,

08:39

her age versus men.

08:40

Her age,

08:41

but a lot less prevalent than in women

08:43

who are older.

08:45

One type of cancer

08:46

that we've been hearing a lot more

08:47

about starting in younger

08:49

people, it's colorectal cancer.

08:51

So much so, Jake.

08:52

And you probably know this,

08:53

but the standard age of screening

08:55

that was recommended

08:56

as have long been 50 years old,

08:59

but organizations came out and said

09:00

it probably should be 45

09:02

because we're seeing more and more

09:03

of these types of cancers

09:04

in younger people,

09:06

and that's men, men or women alike, Jake.

09:08

And again, we don't know.

09:09

I just want to be clear.

09:10

We don't know

09:11

what kind of cancer this is,

09:12

but there are certain cancers

09:14

that we typically thought

09:15

of happening in older

09:17

people that now happen in younger people

09:19

over the last several decades.

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